FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Faith Church Member
- Head Teacher, Assistant Teacher
- Head Teacher, Assistant Teacher / Head Teacher for the Mom, Dad & Me Class / Assistant Teacher for the T / Th Threes Class
Miss Amanda is a Faith Church Member who joined the Faith Preschool Staff in 2013 as the head teacher for the Mom, Dad & Me Class and started as assistant teacher to the threes class in 2022. She is a licensed social worker with 10 years' experience working with therapeutic children and foster families, both in the school and home setting. She earned her BA in Social Work from Ohio University and currently lives with her husband and three children in Fairlawn. Amanda has enjoyed working with children at Faith Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. She has served on the Preschool Board and as a substitute teacher at Faith. She feels strongly that the Mom, Dad & Me class provides the perfect opportunity to introduce little ones to how much fun learning can be with the security of their caregiver at their side to join in the fun!
Beth joined the Faith staff in 2010 as Custodian. Her role expanded in July 2018 to include the duties of Property Manager. Beth is responsible for caring for the entire property, including contracts and inspections, and oversees the maintenance and repair of church property. Her love for Faith shows in her dedication to this building.
Job Titles:
- Organist / Choir Director
Bob has been a church organist and choir director for over 50 years. He is also the Principal Keyboardist for several professional orchestras and choruses in the region. He has served at Faith for 17 years.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Teacher
- Assistant Teacher / Assistant Teacher for the M - F 4s / PreK
Corie joined Faith Preschool in 2021 to serve as Assistant to the Three Year Old Classes. In 2022 she moved upstairs to assist with the 5-day 4s/PreK class. She is a member of Faith Lutheran Church and has coursework in Early Childhood Education from the University of Akron. She also has experience working with various age groups and summer camps at both Kids Country and Childtime. She enjoys spending time with her 2 children at the beach, zoo and museums. Hobbies include gardening, running, reading and yoga.
Darlene Thomay-Weaver, or "Grandma Darlene" as the kids call her, is a retired nurse and member of Faith Lutheran Church. She graduated from Baldwin Wallace in 2000 with a degree in Human Services. She has 4 adult children and 8 grandchildren. Darlene joined Faith Preschool as a Substitute Teacher in 2021.
Job Titles:
- Community Outreach Coordinator
David's career has included serving in leadership for the Hospice of the Western Reserve for more than 25 years. Since his retirement from that role, he has been an adjunct professor at Baldwin Wallace University and served as a consultant in various settings. If you speak French, you can practice with David; he is fluid in that language. His hobbies include running, mountain hiking, biking and tree identification. He is looking forward to continuing to serve the community through Faith Lutheran Church, making a difference in new ways.
His email address is outreach@faithlutheranchurch.org.
Job Titles:
- Contact Director
- Director of Preschool & Children 's Ministry
Contact Director Dineen Dowling at 330-836-8827 to schedule a tour today! You can see our classes in action, meet our caring staff and discover more about the exciting learning opportunities Faith Preschool has to offer your child!
Miss Dineen earned a BA in Religion from Wittenberg University and an MAR from Yale. She has over 20 years' experience working in children's ministry and is on staff at Faith Lutheran Church. She also taught at Youngstown State University and the University of Akron and has subbed for Akron Public Schools. Dineen joined the Preschool staff in 2010 teaching Kids Club and 4s/PreK. She was appointed Director in 2012. She lives in West Akron with her husband and two children.
Emma Antal joined Faith Preschool Staff as the Lunch Bunch Teacher and Substitute Teacher in the fall of 2020. Emma recently graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a degree in theatre. She is a member of Faith Lutheran Church and sings in the contemporary band. Emma loves dramatic play, singing, reading and voice acting.
My name is Eric Jezewski and I have been working with the youth at Faith for 7 years! My wife Abby helps me plan and lead most of our events. We have two daughters, Cyrus and Crosby, as well as a very ornery schnauzer, Fritz. One of the things I love the most about my job at Faith, is that I get to connect youth, parents, pop culture and shared interests to experiencing practical and applicable faith in our individual and collective lives. I am easiest to reach via email, faithlcyouth@gmail.com as well as via Remind Text Messaging by signing up here.
I was introduced to Faith Lutheran Church, Fairlawn, in 1986 when I was assigned to serve as intern, or vicar, at this congregation. That was during my third year as a seminary student at Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus. This congregation was a good setting for learning hands-on ministry; when I returned as pastor 16 years later, I was welcomed by some familiar, and many new faces.
I came to Columbus in 1984 for seminary, having been raised in western Nebraska and having also spent time in the small towns of south east Nebraska where my grandparents had a farm. I went to college near Omaha, and after graduation worked as a newspaper editor for a few years. I also did a full year of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) - which was an unusual occurrence - at a Lutheran Hospital complex. That experience led me to respond to God's call to ministry and head for Columbus.
After seminary graduation in 1988, I was assigned to the Northeastern Ohio Synod and have served in three calls since my ordination on Dec. 17, 1988: St. Paul Lutheran Church in Sharon Center, St. Luke Lutheran Community in North Canton and, in May 2002, I was fortunate to be called as pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Fairlawn.
Job Titles:
- Setup and Repair Coordinator
Jesse Unk joined Faith's staff in August 2017, as the Set-Up and Repair Coordinator. He is responsible for the day-to-day set up of the facility, minor repairs and assuring that the church building is secure. Jesse is also an English teacher for grades 9-12, at Compton Learning Center and is the son of Beth Unk, Faith's Property Manager.
Job Titles:
- Head Teacher
- Head Teacher / Head Teacher for Both 3s Classes & Kids Club
Miss Jill holds an Associates in Early Childhood Development at the University of Akron and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from UA. She has worked as a Home Visitor for Head Start for 4 years and has been a substitute Preschool Teacher as well as an Assistant Teacher for an afternoon Pre-K class for two years, prior to coming to Faith Preschool in 2015. Miss Jill lives in Wadsworth with her husband and three daughters. She often helps with the kindergarten class at her local church, as well as the grade school class at church. Miss Jill has enjoyed being a part of Faith Preschool Three's teaching team, helping the children grow and learn, as well as organizing fun activities for Kids Club!
My family and I joined Faith Lutheran Church thirty plus years ago. I began the job of Treasurer at that time. What I enjoy most about this job is interacting with the people of the congregation and, also, working with the staff. My responsibility is to manage the Operating and Preschool funds, and all other non-operating funds, pay bills, maintain payroll and associated taxes, compile budget information and provide a finalized budget for publication.
Job Titles:
- Head Teacher
- Head Teacher / Head Teacher for the M - Th 4s / PreK Class
Miss Katie joined Faith Preschool in 2018 and was an Assistant Teacher for the M-F 4s/PreK class for two years before moving into the Head Teacher role for the M-Th 4s/PreK Class. She holds a master's in Elementary Education with a Reading Endorsement and BA from the University of Akron. She brings seven years of teaching experience to Faith: two years teaching preschool and five years teaching kindergarten. Katie has been a stay-at-home mom before her youngest started kindergarten. She lives in Akron and enjoys spending time with her husband and two children and going to the beach.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Teacher
- Assistant Teacher / Assistant Teacher for the MWF Threes Class
Job Titles:
- Assistant Teacher, Lunch Bunch Teacher
- Assistant Teacher, Lunch Bunch Teacher / Assistant Teacher for the M - Th 4s / PreK Class
Miss Melanie joined Faith Preschool as a Substitute Teacher in 2016 and as an Assistant Teacher and Lunch bunch Teacher in 2018, but she had been subbing for us the previous two years. She lives in Cuyahoga Falls with her husband and two children. She graduated from John Carroll University with a BA in political science and previously worked in the education publishing industry. She is an active volunteer at her daughter's school and with girl scouts. Melanie enjoys scrapbooking, reading and traveling with her family.
Job Titles:
- Informal Service Worship / Sound Leader
Job Titles:
- Administrative Manager & Council Secretary
- Faith Member
Nancy Tobar has been a Faith member since 2003. She began her role as Administrative Manager in 2016. Some of the areas that Nancy is responsible for include preparing worship materials, maintaining the database and the church calendar, and being the friendly person on the other end of the phone. She enjoys her role at Faith, helping others and serving God.
Rebecca Williams is a member of Faith Lutheran Church and former preschool parent. She joined Faith as a Substitute Teacher in 2020. She has always loved working with children through church, camp, school, and volunteer activities. In her freetime (from 3 children) she likes to workout, read, and decorate cakes.
Job Titles:
- Head Teacher
- Head Teacher / Head Teacher for M - F 4s / PreK, Dance Instructor
Miss Sara came to Faith Preschool in 2013 and served as an Assistant Teacher to the 3s Classes for four years before leading the 5-day 4s/PreK Bluebirds Class. Miss Sara graduated with a BA in Dance with a Business Cognate from the University of Akron and has taught dance to all ages. She has also taught the Tots Class at Northwest Family Recreation Center. Sara completed a CDA (Childhood Development Associate) certification and has taught Kindergarten Enrichment classes at Faith. She loves black cats and has two named Jingle and Jangle.
Sarah McDonnell is a former preschool parent. She joined Faith as a Substitute Teacher in 2021.
Job Titles:
- Set - Up Contemporary Service